Robert Redford, the legendary actor, acclaimed director, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, wasn’t just a Hollywood icon — he was a devoted father and husband whose personal life has been marked by both love and tragedy.
The Oscar-winning actor, director, and Sundance Film Festival founder passed away on September 16 at the age of 89. Over his long career, he left behind a legacy of iconic films, memorable Hollywood performances, and significant philanthropic contributions.
Outside of his professional life, Redford and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, raised four children together: Scott, Shauna, James, and Amy Redford.
Born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, Redford grew into one of the most respected figures in the entertainment world.
His golden-haired charm and unforgettable performances earned him international fame, while his passion for independent cinema reshaped Hollywood through the Sundance Institute.
Robert Redford’s first marriage
Yet behind the glitz of fame, Redford’s heart belonged to his family.
Redford’s first marriage was to producer and historian Lola Van Wagenen in 1958, a union that lasted nearly three decades and brought four children into the world.
Tragedy struck early. Their first child, Scott, was born in 1959 but tragically passed away at just seven weeks old from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Devastated, Redford sought solace in his craft, keeping the grief private.
“How does that show up in my work? I don’t know. I was only 21; my wife was 20. We were just starting our lives; I was just starting my career in New York,” he said at the time “Of course, it was traumatic, and how that plays out over time, I don’t know. We had to deal with it. You have to move on.”
“But it’s pretty traumatic when it happens, particularly when you’re that young,” he concluded. “You’re not equipped to deal with it.”
Then, life carried on.
Shauna Redford
In November 1960, the couple welcomed their eldest daughter, Shauna. Though she didn’t follow in her father’s footsteps as an actor, Shauna became a successful painter. She has been married to Eric Schlosser since 1985, and they share two children, Conor and Mica.
In 2018, Redford spoke about his daughter Shauna while reflecting on the Sundance Institute, the arts nonprofit he founded in 1981 after retiring from acting.
Reflecting on the future, he said Sundance “is going to be in the hands of my children,” referring to the organization that also oversees the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
”I’ve been spending a lot of time bringing my children — Shauna and Amy and Jamie — into the picture, and now they’re there and they’re in a position to run the show,” he told the Salt Lake Tribune at the time.. ”Basically, they’re inheriting what I started, and they’re going to keep it going with my grandchildren.”
In a 1974 interview with The Gazette, Lola explained that the Redford home — at the time a spacious apartment on Upper Gift Avenue in New York — always centered around the kitchen.
She enjoyed cooking, as did Shauna and Jamie. But when the kids were alone with their father, Robert, Lola said it was the children who did all the cooking.
James Redford
Redford’s second son, James — known as Jamie — was a gifted filmmaker who made his mark producing, directing, and writing award-winning projects including The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia.
Married for 35 years to his wife Kyle, James and Kyle had two children, Dylan, who works for The Borscht Corporation, and Lena, who has carved her path in digital storytelling for companies like SuperDeluxe and Illumination Entertainment.
In a 2016 interview with HollywoodChicago.com, Redford’s son Jamie reflected on the ups and downs of growing up with a famous father.
“There can be no argument that I’m in a unique situation, at the very least,” he told the outlet. “But I think the name, for every time it has proved to be helpful, it has also proved to be a challenge.”
“At the end of the day, the task I have is just like anyone else, to prove myself through my product or work,” Jamie added. “I’ve really found this to be true, that it’s a zero-sum game.”
Amy Redford
Like her famous father, Amy went on to build a career in the entertainment industry as an actress, producer, and director. She has appeared in films such as Hate Crime and Candybar. Today, she lives with her partner, theater director Matt August, and together they share a daughter, Eden August.
Amy has long credited her father as an early inspiration. Speaking with IndieWire in 2008, she recalled what drew her to filmmaking:
“As a kid, I witnessed the process of my dad making films and the extraordinary cast of characters that came together to make it happen,” she said. “I found myself drawn to the nomadic and creative life that that implied. … What led me to actually having the opportunity to do it was a combination of luck, timing and stubbornness.”
Over the years, Amy has worked behind the camera directing feature films, television episodes, and music videos, including The Guitar in 2008 and Jeff Buckley’s Everyday People in 2016. She also spoke to HuffPost in 2008 about the importance of amplifying women’s voices in a male-dominated industry.
